"Pink Bags" scholarships for young girls

Many months after the first lockdown in March, and the Coronavirus Pandemic remains a time of huge economic, social, and psychological difficulty for the vulnerable sections of the communities that we work with.

In Bangladesh and India schools will remain closed at least unitl the 5th of october and we realize that some of the damage caused will remain irreparable. Most of the Vulnerable communities  do not yet have a stable job because they are daily wage workers. Women, who mostly work as housemaids are going to work but some people continue to ask maids not to come for work fearing infection through them- so many women are fearing that they may lose their jobs or be asked not to come. Also unfortunately not everyone paid them for the time they were not able to come for work. Competition is high as there are a limited number of work opportunities and many women who are desperate to do any kind of work to bring home an income to run the household expenses and pay for their children’s needs. Sometimes the children’s fathers, most often alcoholics, get tensed and angry, even depressed and take it all out of their wives and children. Fights are frequent and quite animated. 

Another problem is that when the parents go out to work, earlier the children used to be at  school; but now they are left alone or in the presence of an older sibling, or a neighbour “uncle or cousin”- not always the safest option. Children tend to fight also a lot among themselves; as they do not know how to deal with this pandemic emotionally.

Stories of Struggle

1. P. is a beneficiary of Social Entrepreneurship program. She has three children. Her husband is a painter; but he only works for a few days every month- she is therefore the main breadwinner of the family. She runs a Flowers shop at the entrance of Kuruchukuppam, by the entrance of a small but popularly visited local temple. She was already running this small business when she applied for and received a SE loan from Sharana last January to upscale it further. With the help of this loan she was able to purchase a tarpaulin that could cover the area on top of her stall protecting her from weather elements such as the sun and rain. She was also able to purchase some flowers and pooja items in bulk which would allow her to earn a bigger profit for each item sold. (as she bought these in wholesale) Soon after receiving the loan she initially earned between Rs. 400 to 500 per day as January and February as festive and auspicious months a majority of people visit the temple; many others continue to visit once or twice a week throughout the year. However, when Corona struck her income completely stopped for several months. During this time her husband also could not go for work; the family income was down to zero. They somehow managed on the government relief and Sharana’s relief that was provided. A month ago, temples were opened to the public once again and she restarted her business but the number of devotees is very less- they come only for auspicious days or events; the regular weekly visits are avoided due to possibility of catching infections in a public place like temples. Her income, while restarted, remains minimum. She is waiting for the situation to improve; so that the business can resume as normal- as for the moment the socio-economic situation in their home is almost hand-to-mouth.